WIRELESS DATA COMMUNICATION AND POWER TRANSMISSION USING AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES HAVING PROPERTIES OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC CAVITY

• US 20090184877A1
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bommer, Jason Philip
• Granted Patent: US 8,026,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/708
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices

Abstract

An aircraft structure having properties of an electromagnetic cavity is used to enhance wireless transmission for at least one of wireless data communication and wireless power transmission.

Claims

1. A method for an aircraft, the method comprising using an aircraft structure having properties of an electromagnetic cavity to enhance wireless transmission for at least one of wireless data communication and wireless power transmission.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure is caused to function as at least one of an RF waveguide and an RF cavity resonator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the aircraft structure includes an airframe structural element having properties of an electromagnetic cavity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data communication is enhanced by transmitting and receiving RF signals within the cavity.

5. A method for an aircraft, the method comprising electromagnetically coupling selected aircraft structures having properties of an electromagnetic cavity to form a wireless bus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the aircraft structures include at least one aircraft structural element.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein a relay is used to electromagnetically couple two of the selected aircraft structures.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising reducing RF losses in the aircraft structures.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising adding means for energizing cavities of certain selected structures for power transmission.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising connecting the wireless bus to a hub through a radiating element.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising installing a plurality of wireless devices in the aircraft, the devices having their radiating elements installed inside cavities of certain selected structures.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless devices replace wired devices, and wherein the method further comprises removing wires for the wired devices.

13. An aircraft comprising:

a plurality of structures having properties of an electromagnetic cavity; and

means for electromagnetically coupling cavities formed by the structures together to provide a cavity-assisted RF pathway for wireless transmission for at least one of wireless data communication and wireless power transmission.

14. An aircraft comprising:

a plurality of aircraft structures having properties of an electromagnetic cavity, the structures forming at least one cavity-assisted RF pathway;

a plurality of wireless electrical systems having their radiating elements within cavities of certain structures, the structures used to enhance wireless transmission by the systems.

15. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein the aircraft structures include airframe structural elements.

16. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein the aircraft structures include systems components.

17. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein cavities of the structures are RF-coupled to form a plurality of different paths.

18. The aircraft of claim 17, further comprising a hub for the plurality of paths.

19. The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising conductive materials on the structures for reducing RF losses.

20. The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising relays for electromagnetically coupling the cavities of the structures.

21. A method of designing the aircraft of claim 14, the method comprising:

selecting aircraft structures to form a cavity-assisted RF pathway;

designing waveguides and cavity resonators so they can be incorporated into the selected structures; and

matching the structures so that RF performance is optimized.

22. A system comprising:

a plurality of structures having properties of an electromagnetic cavity;

a wireless system including transmit and receive antennas; and

means for electromagnetically coupling selected structures to enhance wireless transmission for at least one of wireless data communication and wireless power transmission between the transmit and receive antennas, the antennas within cavities of certain selected structures.